Southern Africa Grapples With Livestock Climate and Land Issues

Livestock producers in southern Africa are adapting to climate change in complex ways, particularly on redistributed farms, according to a recent report from the Institute of Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. The study examines strategies employed by small- and medium-scale livestock producers in Zimbabwe and South Africa, focusing on how they manage uncertainties in “non-equilibrium” rangelands.

Managing Variability in Zimbabwe

A chapter of the report focuses on Zimbabwe, where land reform has reconfigured rangelands, leading to fragmentation and a new social landscape. Small- and medium-scale livestock farmers on redistributed farms are adopting various adaptation strategies, influenced by access to resources and social connections. These include land-sharing arrangements, leasing, and even practices outside the law, such as “poach-grazing.” The traditional ‘mlaga’ system of transhumance, allowing for flexible access to rangelands, is also being reinvented to cope with environmental variability and climate change.

Land Redistribution and Climate Resilience in South Africa

The South African portion of the study explores the potential of land redistribution to enhance climate resilience among traditional Nama pastoralists in Namaqualand. However, the report highlights limitations in current land redistribution approaches, including elite capture and a focus on a “commercial” ranching model that restricts livestock mobility. The authors propose an alternative model involving the purchase of farms adjacent to communal areas to allow for seasonal movement of livestock between winter and summer rainfall regions.

Adaptation Strategies and Class Relations

The report identifies a variety of climate adaptation strategies employed by livestock producers, ranging from intensification to extensification and a return to traditional transhumance practices. These strategies are often shaped by class relations and access to resources. Producers with limited resources frequently rely on livestock mobility and innovative ways to access grazing during drought periods, including leasing, short-term rentals, and accessing traditional communal areas.

Policy Implications and Future Research

The study emphasizes the complex, hybrid, and resilient nature of livestock production systems in southern Africa. It suggests that these systems are still evolving and highlights the need for ongoing research to characterize the dynamics of change and inform policies aimed at supporting small-scale livestock producers on redistributed land. The report is available for download at https://zimbabweland.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/plaas-livestock-and-climate-change-in-africa-report.pdf.

This blog was written by Tapiwa Chatikobo (PLAAS, UWC) and first appeared on Zimbabweland.